A Lie, A Scandal And A Wedding

Maya Banks strolled into Powell's Homes and Properties, her high heels making a clicking noise on the floor as she stepped into the neatly polished black porcelain tile.

Maya glanced around, a feeling of uneasiness flooded around her, she bit her lips to get herself from the maze of the endless crowd around her. She was lost in this maze and she does not know where to go next!

"Hi! May I help you?" Maya turned to a young lady in her mid-twenties, her chestnut hair was pulled back in a ponytail, her straight lilac gown hugged curves neatly as a polite smile was plastered on her face.

After assessing the lady, Maya noticed the sparkling white marble table in front of her, underneath it, was written a word which Maya has missed in bold letter' Receptionist'. Maya smiled, she has completely forgotten about the reception in her rush to get to work.

"Yes, I'm kind of lost. Can you help me?" Maya asked her, offering her a polite smile of her own as she reached out to re_strap her bag on her shoulder.

"Sure. May I ask where you are going?" The receptionist smiled back, checking Maya out with a polite smile on her face.

"I'm going to Mr. Barnett's office. I'm his new secretary" Maya replied, with a hint of pride in her voice. Finally, her long-awaited dream was coming to pass.

"Oh! Congratulations! Mr. Barnett's office is on the second floor. If you could take that elevator there, someone will be there to guide you" The receptionist explained, her red painted manicured fingers pointed in the direction of the elevator where Maya has also failed to notice.

Maya smiled at her, thanking her, and sauntered down to the elevator. She quickly got in and pressed the number for the second floor as she relaxed against the wall.

A lot of things have been on her mind all morning, in between the tension of her first day at the office and her mom pestering, Maya was surprised that she was still alive and breathing fine.

As Maya stepped out of the elevator, her eyes saddened as she suddenly paused having remembered her mother's word to her that morning " Maya darling! Please don't overwork yourself as you did in your previous work rather get a life and most especially a handsome man will do just fine"

Maya scoffed as she resumed walking, she couldn't believe her mom said that. Does she think it's easy to get a man? And a handsome one at that...

Maya pulled out of her thoughts as she noticed yet another receptionist, she walked closer to her plastering a gentle smile on her face.

"Welcome Miss Banks, Mr. Barnett has been expecting you since morning. He's in a meeting right now, if you could wait for him in the office" Before Maya could introduce herself the receptionist has beat her to it.

Maya's heart skipped a beat when she heard that her boss had been expecting her all morning. So much for a first impression, Maya. Maya scolded herself as she forced herself into the office where the receptionist had pointed her to.

Thirty minutes later, the office door opens showing a short man with a slim body who Maya recognizes as her boss. He and one other person had quizzed her on her interview some months ago.

"Welcome Miss Banks" Mr. Barnett called slowly to her walking to his desk. His eyes took the time on the wall clock before turning to assess Maya who gulped nervously.

"Though, I must say this is quite too late of you but I will let it slide as this is your first day, Okay?" Mr. Barnett said gently before turning to look for some files on his table.

Maya smiled, thanking her star that she was off the hook" Thank you so much, sir. I promise that it won't repeat itself" Maya answered with a solemn promise in her voice.

"It better not!" Mr. Barnett responded looking at her briefly before going back to search for a file on his table.

"Here," Mr. Barnett handed the file to Maya as soon as he saw it hidden in between another file on his table.

Maya collected the file from him with a confused expression on her face. What was she to do with this? Is this her first assignment?

"Take that and study it. You will be requested to defend it tomorrow in front of the big boss" Mr. Barnett confirmed with a wave of his hands dismissing Maya.

He looked up after some time to see that Maya was still in his office watching him. He raised his brows with a frown on his face" What are you still doing here?"

"I'm sorry sir but I don't know where my office is?" Maya quizzed with a soft smile on her face.

"Ask the receptionist, she will direct you there. That will be all for now, Miss Banks" Mr. Barnett announced, he watched as Maya saw herself out of his office before he could concentrate on the files in front of him, he needed to submit it to the boss first thing tomorrow morning.

Maya sauntered down the elevator with her bag strapped on her shoulder, her hands clutching the files in her hands as she made her way out of the office after saying goodbye to the receptionist.

She has spent the rest of the day in her office studying the files which her boss has handed to her that morning.

And from it all, she could see that the real boss was trying to acquire another home in a densely populated area and was looking for both the advantages and disadvantages of it. Maya already knew her answers without even researching for it and that is No!!

Maya stepped out of the sliding door and stood outside inhaling deeply. She was glad that her first day at Powell's Homes and Properties has gone well even after being ridiculously late.

Maya was about to take a step out of the building when her eyes caught a lone figure at the rooftop of the penthouse building. She gasped as her eyes took in his blue bespoke suit which hugged his muscles like a second skin.

She gulped as her legs turned to jelly immediately, her brown eyes mixed with his blue eyes, he was staring down at her with a frown on his face.

Maya averted her gaze and rushed out of the gate to flag down a taxi that will take her home. She couldn't stop thinking about him as the taxi drove her home. Who was he? Another worker?

Maya stepped out of the taxi, closing the door she turned to pay the driver before turning to walk into the black iron gate which had opened as soon as she stepped out of the taxi. Her mom stood glaring at her from the balcony of their apartment.

Maya ignored her mother as she showed herself into the room after stepping out of the elevator.

"Maya! What were you doing at the office until this late?" Her mother's voice greeted her as soon as she stepped into the room.

Maya rolled her eyes at her mother. She sat down on the couch before glancing at the wall clock opposite her which reads seven p.m.

"Please don't start mom. I nearly lost my job today. The only way I could make up was to work until late hour" Maya replied, her hands going to undo the strap on her black heels. She put them on the floor and started massaging her feet.

"Really?" Her mother exclaimed in shock. She couldn't believe she nearly caused her daughter to lose her job.

"Fine. But don't be late tomorrow. You need to go and date, you are not getting any younger" Her mom continued, reminding her that her decision still stands.

Maya nodded and stood up to go into her room, she wasn't in the mood to argue with her mom tonight seeing that she never won any of their arguments.

"And make sure to return Zara's calls. She called you this morning but you forgot your phone at home" Her mother's voice called out to her as Maya opened the door to her bedroom.

"Yes, mom. Thank you" Maya replied to her mom before closing the door to her bedroom. She lay down on the bed with her face facing the ceiling, she was exhausted and drained.

Her hands immediately went to the file she had dropped on the bed. She picked it up and went through it again. She wanted to be sure that she had memorized everything by heart.

Her eyes took the phone which her mom had placed on her dresser's table. Maya walked to pick it up, putting a call through to Zara. She waited for Zara to pick up her phone.

"Hello, Bestie!" Zara called into the phone as soon as it connected.

"Hey, I'm sorry, I couldn't pick your calls. I forgot my phone at home" Maya replied rushing to explain herself. She didn't want Zara worrying about her as she strolled into the bathroom to bathe with her phone placed on her ear.

"Yes, your mom told me. How was your first day at work?" Zara asked her, as she braced herself for the gist Maya was going to give her.

"Don't even ask about that" Maya rolled her eyes as she put the phone on speaker and dropped it on the mirror stand in the bathroom. She couldn't help thinking back to that morning when she nearly lost her job.

"Why? Did it not go alright?" Zara asked Maya as concern laced her voice.

"I nearly lost my job today all because of my mom and her sermon" Maya continued slowly. If her mom continues like this, she will be forced to run away from home.

Zara's laughter filled the phone as Maya sulked bitterly" It isn't funny Zara. You need to see the way she was asking me to get a man. A handsome man at that.

"How or where do I get such a man?" Maya laments mumbling to herself. She was getting tired of her mom pestering her to get married. For goodness sake, she was twenty-six, not thirty-six.

"Don't mind your mom. I'm sure she's only after the money she will get from the man" Zara told her friend. She was also aware of persuasive Mrs.Banks can be.

"That reminds me, I need your help with my blog tomorrow," Maya paused in between her bath as she turned to stare at her phone.

" Why? Is there a problem?" Maya asked her shocked, she didn't want to imagine what was wrong with Zara's blog. She knew how Zara cherished her blog.

" No, nothing. We'll talk about it when you come" Zara replied and hung up after exchanging a few gossips with Maya.

"Maya! Dinner is ready"

Maya rushed through her bath as soon as she heard her mom's voice call out to her. She went downstairs and sat down opposite her mom to enjoy her dinner in peace but her mom had other plans for her.

"I was talking to Mrs. Blake the other day, she said her son will be coming back today. Do you mind if she introduced you both?" Maya glared at her mom. She has forgotten how adamant her mom could be.

"Mom, I'm not going on a blind date with anyone and most especially not Mrs. Blake's son" Maya shouted at her mom, she always hated their neighbor downstairs. Apart from being such a freak, she was a gossip. Always knowing what was going on with everyone.

"Calm down young lady!" Her mom returned her glare" You can't be like this forever. You need to find a man to love_______"

"Goodnight mom" Maya replied and stood up to go to bed. Her mom wasn't going to give her peace tonight.

" Just think about what I said, Mrs. Blake's son is handsome and caring" Mrs. Banks called out at her daughter's retreating back before standing up to clear the table.

Maya fell asleep as soon as her head touched the bed as she has a long day at the office tomorrow.

Liam knotted his golden tie with haste as he bent to pick up his grey suit jacket. He was getting late for the office as he had a meeting concerning his newly acquired property in a secluded neighborhood.

He took his briefcase and stepped out of his room taking the stairs in two to the sitting room where his driver was waiting for him.

"Williams. Are you going to work?" Liam didn't need to turn to know who was speaking. His grandfather was the only one who refers to him with his full name, every other person knows him as Liam.

"Yes, grandpa. As you can see, I'm running late" Liam answered, turning to smile at his grandfather who was coming down the stairs from the other side of his room with a cup of coffee in his hands.

Liam wasn't aware that his grandfather was around as he had come in late yesterday after his late-night with one of his nightstands.

"Hmmm" Mr. Powell sighed, walking down to meet Liam who was on the other side of the room clutching his briefcase tightly like he couldn't wait to leave the room.

Mr. Powell took his seat on one of the three-setter couches and motioned, Liam, over the one opposite him" Sit down. There's something we need to talk about before you leave for the office"

Liam reluctantly took his seat as he saw that no amount of argument was going to change his grandfather's mind. He held his breath and waited for what his grandfather wanted to say while briefly glancing at the wall clock across from him to see that it was past eight.

"I'm going to sell Powell's Homes and Properties" Mr. Powell acknowledged as he sipped his coffee, not in the bit fazed by what he had said but that was opposite of Liam who had shot up from his seat the instant he heard that.

"What? Sell? But why?" Liam inquired, his grandfather shocked from hearing that. Of everything he had to imagine him saying today, he wasn't expecting his grandfather to want to sell Powell's Homes and Properties. That was his inheritance. His grandfather can't do that to him.

His grandfather overlooked his question but rather crossed his legs and dropped the teacup on the table opposite him. He ran his hands through his short curly grey hair before turning to watch Liam with solemnity on his face "That should be of no concern to you. The reason I want to sell my company should be my problem, not yours"

" But that's my inheritance we are talking about here. I have every right to know why?" Liam opposed firmly. His father had willed the company to him before his death. He can't have his grandfather take it from him even though he was the founder and chairman of the company.

Mr. Powell continues with his words ignoring whatever protest Liam was giving" I'm yet to sign the contract, that's why I wanted to see you first"

Liam sat back down on the couch, "there's still hope" he mutters to himself as he waits for his grandfather to continue.

"I'm going to leave the company to you only on one condition and if you fail to meet it, then I will be forced to sell it as planned," Mr. Powell concluded his speech as he waited patiently for his grandson's response.

Truth is, he wasn't trying to sell the company but that was the only way he could get William to accept his condition. He knows how much Williams cherished the company and would do anything for it, he plans to use that to his advantage.

Liam sat shocked and unmoving on the couch. A part of him was confused as he didn't know what the condition was and the other part of him would do anything for his company.

" What is the condition? I will do anything to protect my company" Liam vowed confidently causing a smile to spread across the face of his grandfather who seemed happy at his response.

" That's great. I'm happy you are interested in the offer. I will be waiting for you with the attorney, so you can sign the contract when you get back home. Now, off you go to work" Mr. Powell waved him off with a broad smile on his face as he took out his phone to call his attorney.

***

Liam arrived at the office some minute past nine. His secretary was carrying his briefcase as they both walked side by side in the hallway to the conference room.

" Call Mr. Barnett to the meeting. I'm in a hurry" Liam barked to his secretary who scrambled out to go call Mr. Barnett after making sure that the boss was settled on his seat.

Liam was a well-calculated man. Everything that was going to happen, he has always planned ahead. And when things don't go as planned, it always leaves him feeling bitter with himself.

He definitely hasn't planned for his conversation with his grandfather that morning. And he also hasn't planned for his heart to skip a beat as he saw the lady walk in, her heels making a clicking noise on the floor.

He was shocked as that was the only time his heart as ever beats for a woman. She looks familiar, Liam wonders where he has last seen her. He wouldn't forget a face as beautiful as hers.

He knows she knew that he was gawking at her which was why the moment their eyes met across the table, he was expecting her to smile and give him a sign that she was interested in him but rather she frowned at him and averted her gaze.

Liam has never been rejected by a woman before which was why he couldn't help being annoyed with the lady who was sitting across from him. Who does she think she is? Liam glared at her but even as he said that his mind couldn't help smiling as he had accepted the challenge of making her his.

"Mr. Powell, meet Miss. Bank, my secretary. She will be taking over the presentation for today" Mr. Barnett's voice pulled him out from his thoughts as he turned to stare at the lady he had been introduced to.

Her eyes were huge as they nearly bulged out of their socket" Nice to meet you, Miss Banks. Can we hear what you've to tell us" Liam urges her, his voice giving no room for nonsense? He takes his company seriously and wasn't going to back down for this woman.

"Yes, Mr. Powell" She replied as she stood up to tidy up her dress before going over to the front to begin her presentation. Liam was lost as all he could focus on was her voice.

Damn! Her ass was doing things to his inside that he couldn't' help thinking how turned-on he would be if she used that voice on him in the bedroom. And that ass, he will bury his face and suck them with his tongue.

The bulge in his trouser was the evidence of how turned on he will be. Liam sat up on the chair to adjust his penis and forced himself to concentrate on whatever she was saying.

"In conclusion, I think this will be a bad idea if you purchase that building" Maya concluded as she turned to look at the one man who had put her heart in turmoil.

It was a miracle that she finished her presentation well with the way he was undressing her with his eyes. But she wasn't going to fall for him even though she was attracted to him, she knows his type. They change women like they were properties, not human like they are.

Liam finally caught on her last word and shot up from his seat, his blazing hot with anger and when he speaks, his voice was void of emotion but rather with venom" How dare you disregard my business strategy as unethical. I am going to buy that building and pull it down to build a condominium. Do you know how many people will be willing to pay a huge amount of money for a condominium in that neighborhood?" Liam barked, ignoring Mr. Barnett who was trying to calm him down.

He has never been so annoyed with a woman like he was right now. He knows he wasn't annoyed because she asked him not to go ahead with the contract but he was mostly annoyed that she rejected him. His ego was hurt.

Maya holds her stand, she returns his glare. How can someone be so selfish? And to think she was attracted to him a while back" I'm sorry Mr. Powell but I think that's selfish of you. Do you know how many poor people will become homeless because of your selfish dream of building a condominium?" Maya asked him with her hands folded across her chest.

Instead of calming down his anger, she only fueled it. Liam watched her with hatred in his eyes" And who told you I wasn't going to compensate them. I was going to make sure that they all get a house of their own elsewhere"

" I beg your pardon sir but these people have lived there most of their lives. Building a house for them or compensating them with cash wouldn't bring back the memories that they have found in that house. I suggest you find another place to build your condominium" Maya concluded gently ignoring the fierce look from her boss who was staring at her like who was she to argue with the big boss.

Maya wasn't going to back down on this, she doesn't care if she lost her job for this. She won't let another person go through what her mom and she went through. She knows how it felt to be ripped off from a place you've spent all your lives in because of a selfish businessman like Mr. Powell.

Liam paused. He wouldn't deny that she was right in her arguments but he was a businessman, not a charity foundation" But what to do Miss Banks. I've already signed the contract and as I'm talking to you right now, my lawyers are there to serve them the letters" Liam smiled at her when he saw the defeated look in her eyes. Though he appreciated her kindness, he wasn't going to back down on millions of dollars deal.

"But sir_____"

" That will be all Miss Banks. Thank you for your thoughts and contribution" Liam replied, cutting her off as he nodded to his secretary to take his things out. Maya Turned to follow her boss out who was annoyed with her.

***

Liam got out of the shower and dressed with haste to go meet his grandfather who was waiting with the lawyer. He took a cold shower as soon as he got home to calm his dick which was surprisingly still hard after everything.

"Come over here, Williams" Mr. Powell called to him as soon as he saw Liam step out of the room. He was dressed in brown Louis Vuitton shorts and a matching tee shirt.

Liam smiled at him and went to meet them in the dining room. He couldn't wait to get this over with so his grandfather could return to Luxembourg. It was because of him that's why he couldn't bring in a call girl to rid him of this hard-on which was still on even after bathing twice.

"So?" Liam asked his grandfather with such calmness that he didn't know he had it in him after he had settled on his seat beside his grandfather at the head.

" So, my condition is that you find a wife in the next one month. And after the marriage, the company will be yours" Mr. Powell concluded, causing Liam to snarl at him.

Liam shudders from the thought of having to spend his life with a woman, he hates them. They are only good for sex nothing else" And if I reject the condition?"Liam asked his grandfather, even after knowing what his response would be.

" Then the company will be sold. I'm sure your father will be happy in his grave when the company belongs to another person" Mr. Powell remarked sarcastically. He couldn't help wishing in his heart that William accept his condition as that was the only way to get to marry.

Liam paused. He was caught at a crossroad with no solution" Okay, I accept the condition" Liam mumbled to his grandfather who smiled in excitement.

" That's good. Now, sign the contract" Mr. Powell motioned to the paper which the lawyer was thrusting at him. Liam collected it and appended his signature after glancing through the first paragraph.

" That's all. Right grandpa?" Liam asked him. His grandfather nodded in happiness" Goodnight" Liam called out to him and ran up to his room to retire for the night.

" Gosh! I hate him so much, he's so heartless" Maya announced to her friend who was typing away furiously on her computer. Maya had gone to see Zara as soon as she left the office, with a heavy heart she had immediately complained about her boss to her.

" It's not his fault, Maya" Zara turned to her with a smile on her face before turning back to her computer. She was trying to create content that will draw traffic to her website.

" Whose fault is it?" Maya exclaimed glaring at her friend who was taking Liam's side instead of hers.

" Babe, this is business. And in business, no one wants to lose out. Everyone's eyes are on the big prize which is the profit. So, don't blame him, no one wants to work without making a profit, or do you?"

" But not everything is about money, once in a while we should always thrive to do good to others. Losing a few million won't hurt him" Maya protested angrily banging her fists on the table.

" Not millions, Maya. It's Billions of dollars, the man is stinkingly rich" Zara told her as she stood up and went to the kitchen to get Maya something to drink. She knew never to argue with Maya Banks as she doesn't back down from a challenge.

Maya glared at her friend's retreating back, she couldn't help but feel jealous that her friend was taking Liam's side just because he was rich. What kind of a friend was she? Maya wondered in her mind.

" Here, have this, I'm sure it would calm your anger" Zara smiled as she handed Maya a glass of chilled cola drink. Maya collected it from her and sipped it.

" That reminds me, how's your blog going? Are you able to bring back your readers?" Maya asked her. She was guilty that she didn't give Zara her attention instead she was arguing with her about that heartless man.

" Same old, same old. I'm getting frustrated with it" Zara sighed heavily as she abandoned the computer and turned to rest her back against the chair with her hands folded across her chest, she stared at her friend.

" So tell me, how's your search going with finding, Mr. Handsome?" Zara asked her, she remembers Maya telling her about her mom wanting her to get together with Mrs. Blake's son.

" Don't even go there. Who told you I'm looking for anybody. No, thank you, I'm comfortable being married to my work" Maya replied shrugging. She was an independent woman who did her things on her terms. She wasn't going to let any man control her in the name of marriage.

" But babe, you need someone to take care of you, what will you do when you are horny? I have Stanley with me. You need to get someone too"

Maya makes a disgusted face at Zara " I'm not horny, I don't want a man in my life. Moreover, Stanley loves you, that's why you both are still together"

" Fine" Zara huffed at her. Maya was one stubborn girl that she had ever seen.

" What's your dream guy? How do you want him to be?" Zara asked her again after some time, she was trying to understand why Maya was this way.

" Unfortunately, I don't have any dream guy," Maya replied, shrugging like she couldn't waste her time thinking about such trivial things when she could be focusing on her work and making money to give her mom a better life.

" Maya!!!" Zara screamed in frustration, she couldn't believe her friend. Who doesn't have a pictorial representation of their dream man?

" Fine" Maya answered reluctantly giving in to Zara's demand.

" My dream guy" Maya repeated with a faraway look in her eyes and a gentle smile on he lips" I would want him to be caring, loving, intelligent, handsome with a brain" Maya answered grinning at Zara who shook her head at her.

" Is that how to describe something? I want details, who knows maybe we might find someone on the net for you"

" Okay, I want my dream guy to be tall with a pointed nose, blue eyes, and chiseled chin. Lean body" Maya closed her eyes as she described Liam for Zara. At the moment, her brain could only come up with someone like him because, for the first time in her life, she was attracted to a man.

Zara smiled as she stood up clapping her hands together " I know it, you like Liam Powell right?"

" Of course, who wouldn't like him but I do hate his selfish attitude. Remove that, then I'm okay with it" Maya responded sticking her tongue out at Zara who was back on her computer working.

Zara was about to respond when Maya's phone rang in her pocket, she picked it up to see a strange number" Who is this?" Maya wondered in her mind as she accepted the call.

" Hello! I'm I, speaking with Miss Banks?" The caller asked her immediately, the call connected, causing Skylar's heart to leap as she was scared.

" Yes, please how may I help you" Maya answered back, getting scared. She didn't remember giving her number out to a random guy. No, she never gave her number to anybody. Her contact consists of only her mother's number, Zara's, her boss, and a few friends from school.

" I'm calling in regard of a patient that has been admitted to our hospital, Mrs. Jessica Banks"

" Oh my God," Maya screamed, alerting Zara from the other side of the room as she ran to go meet her.

" What is it, Maya?"Zara asked her, trying to pry the phone from her hands to speak to the caller herself.

" I____ please that's my mother. Which hospital is she at?"

" The Calvary hospital" The man answered just before he hung up. Maya quickly packed her bag and walked out of the door with Zara following behind her. She struggled to keep the tears a bay but they kept streaming down her face as she wondered what could have happened to her mother.

" Calm down, Maya. I'm sure it's just a minor issue, Mrs. Banks is rarely sick" Zara moved closer to her to comfort her while they waited outside her sidewalk for a taxi.

" I know but she was alright this morning. Nothing was wrong with her" Maya protested. She couldn't help wondering why she was in the hospital. Her mother was okay this morning.

" I know, just calmed down. At least let's get to the hospital first, okay?" Zara told her as Maya nodded and turned to wipe her eyes. Zara flagged down a taxi, they both got in after giving the name of the hospital to the driver who drove them there.

***

Maya ran down the corridor to the reception where a young nurse was attending to other people in front of her.

" Please where can I find, Mrs. Jessica Banks," Maya told the nurse who nodded and directed her to the emergency ward where her mother was. Maya couldn't go in as the nurse prevented her from going in saying that the patient needed to rest.

Maya reluctantly sat down on the chair outside the room and bowed her head as she tries to wonder what could have happened to her mother.

" What is going on? Is Mrs. Banks alright?" Zara's voice pulled Maya out of her thoughts as she looked up to see her friend coming down the stairs with her phone in her hands.

" I don't know, they didn't tell me anything" Maya replied as she turned to look at her mother who was sleeping on the bed. A nurse was by her side.

" It's alright I'm sure it's nothing serious. I need to go home, Stanley is around. I will come back and check on her tomorrow" Zara told Maya gently. She dreaded leaving her friend here but she has to do everything tonight not to lose her blog to the hands of that man, Adams King.

" Okay. Take care of yourself and thank you for coming with me" Maya told her as she stood up to see her off.

When Maya returned to her mother's ward, she was surprised to see their neighbor Mrs. Blake in her seat, Maya was furious, she never knew Mrs. Blake will go to the extent of following her mom to the hospital because she wants to get the first-hand gossip of what's going on with her mom?

" What are you doing here?" Maya glared at the woman who was seated in front of her with her hands folded across her chest. She was beyond angry right now with her.

" Maya, you are here. Thank God" Mrs. Blake exclaimed excitedly, as she rummaged through her back to get her a letter.

" Your mom fainted when she saw this, I had to rush her to the hospital" Mrs. Blake continued as she thrust the letter at a shocked Maya who collected it from her before turning it over and over in her hands wondering what was in the letter to make her mother faint.

"What is in here,?" Maya turned to ask Mrs. Blake who had stood up and was about to leave the ward.

Mrs. Blake paused on her way out and turned to look at the girl who has always hated her. If not for Jessica who needed her help, she would have never done it if it was Maya. Even after asking her to date her son, she refused as her son wasn't human like her.

" That's the notice to vacate the apartment in the next one month. The new owner wants to build a condominium, your mother fainted after seeing that" Mrs. Blake told her and left the hospital without waiting for Maya's response. She needed to get home on time to plan where she was moving out to.

Maya was still shocked even after some minutes since Mrs. Blake had left. She couldn't come to terms with what she had just heard. How dare he? Maya cursed in her mind, he went ahead with everything even though she had told him not to. And now her mother was in the hospital because of him.

If only she knew that he had bought their apartment, she would have put in much fight into the debate yesterday and maybe, just maybe her mother won't be lying at the hospital right now fighting for her life. I will make him pay for what he had done to my mother!

" Miss. Banks, right?" Maya came out of her thought to see a young man in a white coat staring down at her.

" Yes, doctor. How is she? How is my mother?" Maya asked him as she wiped the tears from her eyes. She didn't know she was crying as she struggled to calm her nerves.

" Your mother is okay. We need to watch her for the night and by tomorrow we can carry out a few tests on her. I'll suggest you go home and rest, the nurses here will take good care of your mother" The doctor replied as he patted her on the shoulder gently shaking his head before he turned to walk out of the ward.

Maya sat down on the chair, she was torn between going home and staying here with her mother. No, I need to go home to get my clothes for the office tomorrow, that heartless man needs to hear from me, Maya concluded in her mind and stood up to go home.

Maya quickly packed a few clothes that she will be using in the hospital, she didn't want to be coming back home every day. She walked to her mother's room to pack her clothes too.

Her eyes got a bag filled with used drugs. Maya was shocked, she didn't know her mother was sick. What's the drug for? Maya wondered, she stood up and left the room after concluding that it was a minor case.

She rode the taxi back to the hospital while praying in her heart that her mother should be alright.